TEDxJohannesburgSalon: Brain Health Matters

Kirti Ranchod is a neurologist from South Africa, Global Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health, co-founder African Brain Health Network and has served on the board of Alzheimer's South Africa. She founded Memorability to make brain health tools accessible, practical and effective including courses and masterclasses. Her interests include the role of traditional practices in promoting health and the neuroscience of art. Her art was included in an online art exhibition, REVERB, hosted by Latitudes.
 

Amadi O. Ihunwo is a professor of anatomy, a neuroscientist, and head of the School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Wits University, Johannesburg, South Africa. He is the immediate past secretary-general of the Society of Neuroscientists of Africa (SONA), affiliated with the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO), and chairs the SONA Governing Council. He is a councillor on the Council of the International Society for Neurochemistry (ISN) and founder of the Brain Wellness Initiative (BWI) foundation.
 

Sylvia Vollenhoven, the first-ever Professor of Practice at the University of Johannesburg, is a versatile professional excelling in journalism, playwriting, and filmmaking. Her work includes award-winning documentaries and internationally acclaimed plays. She's also known for her contributions to exploring Khoisan identity. Alongside her creative pursuits, Sylvia is committed to education, often giving guest lectures and chairing the Alan Paton Literary Award Jury, showcasing her dedication to both the arts and academia.
 

Digby Ormond-Brown specialises in mind-brain relationships. Based at Netcare Rehab in Johannesburg, he diagnoses and treats adults and children, focusing on dementia and neurological disorders. Ormond-Brown collaborates on concussion management, serves as a trusted High Court expert witness, conducts insurance evaluations, assesses flight crew fitness, and aids in neurotoxin-related occupational health assessments. His extensive knowledge in brain-related conditions, including hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, and traumatic brain injury, guides his rehabilitation services. 
 

Akshita Siddula is a community organiser and public health professional based in Baltimore, USA. She is currently serving as the Executive Director of The 6th Branch, a nonprofit organisation that transforms vacant lots into productive green spaces such as parks, playgrounds, and urban farms. She holds an MS in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University and a BS and BA from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and is a Global Atlantic Fellow.
 

Ganzamungu Zihindula is a Global Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity. He holds a PhD in public health, from the University of Kwazulu-Natal. He has published more than 30 peer reviewed articles and has presented at more than 50 national and international conferences. His work is influenced by his lived experiences of forced migration, his advocacy for refugees’ inclusion and their equal access to human rights services. He works as a research scientist to implement a Translational Simulation for Trauma-Informed Care intervention to improve the quality of care for staff and patients who have experienced one or more traumatic events in their lifetime.

Hany Ibrahim, MD, is an assistant professor and geriatric medicine consultant at Ain Shams University Hospital, Cairo. A senior Atlantic Fellow at the Global Brain Health Institute, University of California San Francisco and Trinity College Dublin, he co-founded the Ain Shams Cognitive Training Lab and the East Mediterranean Brain Health Initiative. He's a board member of the Mental Health Research Network in Egypt. Hany's work focuses on advancing geriatric healthcare and global brain health.
 

Siphelele Sisonke Veti, who goes by the name Usisonke, is a 25-year-old artist. They have their roots in Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape, but now call Johannesburg home. Usisonke's artistic talents encompass various forms, with a primary focus on visual art and writing. As a poet, their voice has undergone a transformation and fusion, drawing inspiration from personal experiences, beliefs, and cultural heritage. In their creative works, Usisonke skillfully weaves narratives infused with naturalism, esoteric themes, and romanticism.